Well, it’s been an enjoyably first year doing the Post MLB Power Rankings … except trying to come up with weekly updates on the Padres, Mariners and A’s.

It was a season that seemed to be devoid of any pennant races until the Red Sox and Braves decided to make things fun for everyone — especially for the Rays and Cardinals. The late-season collapses reminded me of how the Yankees ended the 2000 season, with a 3-14 record and a 9-game lead that drifted down to 2½.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman was on WFAN on Friday and talked about the importance of exhaling after they finally clinched that year and how that helped them gear up for the postseason. That was the last year of a great run for the Yankees (winning four World Series in five years) and I would argue that experience is what made the difference.

Though the Red Sox do have plenty of postseason experience, it can’t compare to what the Yankees had that season when they battled through three tough series over the A’s, Mariners and Mets (yes, even though it lasted five games).

The Red Sox seem to be in a fragile state right now and it would be difficult to imagine them waking up in time to beat the Rangers or Tigers.

1. Yankees (97-62) (Previous ranking: 2) – For the first time all year they take the top spot in the rankings. It’s just like A.J. Burnett waiting for his final start of the season to shine.

2. Phillies (99-60) (1) – Basically decided to take the last couple of weeks off after wrapping up home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The scary part about this team is that they were built for the postseason.

3. Rangers (93-66) (5) – The lineup is right up there with the Yankees’ for the best in the American League.

4. Brewers (94-65) (4) – Probably the worst rotation among National League postseason teams, so they’d be wise to sweep the Pirates and avoid a first-round matchup with the Phillies.

5. Diamondbacks (93-66) (6) – Are now 14-2 in Ian Kennedy’s past 16 starts. The former Yankees pitcher should be their Game 1 starter.

6. Tigers (92-67) (3) – Trail the Rangers by one game for the No. 2 seed in the American League. The loser gets the Yankees, the winner gets the reeling Red Sox or Rays.

7. Cardinals (88-71) (10) – Thank you schedule-makers. St. Louis, in desperate need of a sweep, takes on worst-in-baseball Houston for their final three games.

8. Red Sox (89-70) (7) – Jon Lester, who has been roughed up by the Rays (twice) and Yankees in his past three starts, is the key to Boston’s postseason hopes — if they make it.

9. Rays (88-71) (8) – Lost the Hector Noesi-James Shields matchup last week; Tampa Bay can’t let that happen again Monday night as they try to keep heat on the Red Sox.

10. Braves (89-70) (9) – Atlanta’s collapse hasn’t received the same attention as Boston’s, but the Braves are 8-15 in September and the Cardinals are within one game.

11. Angels (86-73) (12) – Losing two of three to the A’s all but ends their season. Anaheim lost the opener with Jered Weaver on the mound and the finale by blowing a three-run lead in the ninth.

12. Blue Jays (80-79) (13) – Got a lot of credit for the Colby Rasmus deal, but the former Cardinals outfielder is hitting .187 since the trade.

13. Dodgers (80-78) (14) – Matt Kemp leads the NL in RBIs, is tied for the lead in home runs, but will have a hard time making up the nine points that separates him from Ryan Braun in batting average for the Triple Crown.

14. Giants (84-75) (11) – Defending champs went down with a whimper getting swept by the Diamondbacks this weekend.

15. Indians (80-79) (15) — Made big strides this season, but flurry of midseason moves did nothing to improve the team.

16. Nationals (78-80) (20) – Have already announced an innings limit for Stephen Strasburg. Why not, since that worked so well last season?

18. Reds (77-82) (17) – Dontrelle Willis got his first win since last June on Sunday.

19. White Sox (77-82) (18) – Paid $23 million this year for Adam Dunn and Alex Rios, who combined for a .198 average, 24 home runs and 86 RBIs.

20. Orioles (67-92) (22) – In recent years, Boston has repeatedly treated Baltimore like a punching bag. Now’s the time for Buck Showalter’s team to get some revenge and keep the Red Sox out of the playoffs by taking two of three after they took three of four last week.

21. Rockies (72-87) (19) – Getting swept by the Padres was a fitting way to finish the home season for the NL’s most disappointing team.

22. Royals (70-89) (23) – Have a solid young lineup, now they just need some pitching. Bruce Chen is a decent No. 4 starter, but he can’t be your ace.

23. Pirates (71-88) (21) – Derrek Lee — who hit .356 with five homers in September — probably wishes the Orioles traded him to an actual contender.

24. Cubs (70-89) (24) – Alfonso Soriano is upset the team batted him seventh most of the season. Soriano is hitting .242 this year.

25. Athletics (72-87) (25) – Are the Mariners up next on Hideki Matsui’s one-year tours of AL West teams?